Tobacco-planter



(No Model.) 3 Sheet s--Sheet 1.

A. P. SHULER. TOBACCO PLANTER.

Patented Mar. 29, 1892.

BY g Z I ATTORNEY:

6Z1: fl Z/wz 3% I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

' A. F. SHULER.

TOBAGGO PLANTER.

Patented Mar.-29,v1'892.

AT T ORNEYJ M- WW UNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW F. SHULER, OF AROANUM, OHIO.

TOBACCO-PLANTER.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent No. 471,624, dated March 29, 1892. Application filed March 5, 1891. Serial No. 383.885- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW F. SHULER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arcanum, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine especially adapted for setting out or planting tobacco or similar plants, the constructions and arrangements of the parts being such that the machine is also adapted for planting potatoes or similar vegetables.

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail of afertilizer attachment and dropping mechanism. Fig. 4

Y is a detail of the cam-disk with the cam projection shown removed. Fig. 5 is a perspec-- tive view of the planting and covering devices in detail. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of an attachment for planting potatoes in detail. Figs. 8 and 9 show a modification.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In the said drawings, A A represents the main frame supported at each side on suit able carrying-wheels B B and provided at the forward end with a tongue 0 and doubletrees 0, to which any suitable motive power is attached to draw the machine forward on the wheels 13. The wheels B are each supported on a short axle, to which they are rigidly secured, the axle being in the nature of a divided axlei. 6., formed in two parts B and B -supported and adapted to revolve in suitable bearings on the main frame A A. Secured rigidly on the part B of the axle, which revolves with one of the carryingwheels, is a cam-disk B which consists, essentially, of a plain disk having a series of holes (1. arranged in the same near the outer periphery and adapted to receive suitable cam projections a, detachably secured in said holes.

Journaled in a suitable bearingb 0n the main frame A is a vibrating lever D, pivoted at b Supported below the main frame A A is a v planting-shoe E, pivoted at c to a supportinghanger 0, connected near the front of the main frame A A. Connected to the outer ends 6 5 of the planting-shoe E is aT-shaped supporting-post E, the horizonal bar E of which is provided at each end with trunnions (Z, which project into and find bearings in guidingyokes E provided with curved slotted openings d to receive the said trunnions, these slotted openings being formed on the arc ofa circle whose center is at'the pivotal point 0 of said planting-shoe. The planting-shoe E is bifurcated at the rear end, forming two angularly-projecting wings E E These wings are connected to the bottom of the vertical portion of the T-shaped supportingpost E the said post being bifurcated at the bottom and extended in projecting prongs d riveted or otherwise secured to the wings E? E, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Located in front of the supportingpost E, A V

and connected thereto by suitable U-shaped supporting'clamps e is what I term a standpipe, F, which consists, essentially, of a hollow vertical pipe, the lower end of which is situated within the fork or angle formed by the projecting wings E E and slightly above the bottom thereof. This stand pipe F is provided with a T connection F and below said T connection with a cut-off valve F said cut-01f valve being provided with a projecting vibrating lever 6, adapted by a movement of the same to open or close the Valve, any suit- 5 able well-known valve adapted to be opened and closed by a movement of said lever being employed, the preferable construction being that known as a straightway-valve. From the outlet of the T connection leads a'rubber 10o tube F which connects at the other end to the bottom of a water-box G, supported on the main frame A A. From the side of the T connection opposite to the valve F is a Y it firmly immediately behind the plantingt similar tube or pipe F which leads to a fertilizer-box H, supported at the rear of and slightly above the water-box G.

Pivoted in a suitable bearing 6 on the stand-pipe F are backwardlyextending fingers e e preferably formed integral'and provided with a projecting operating-lever e on the opposite sides of their pivoted bearing e This operating-lever e is preferably provided with a series of openings 6, adapted to receive the end of a connecting-rod f, attached at its other end to the vibrating lever D in one of the openings W. A similar connecting rod f forms a connection between said vibrating bar D and the oscillating lever e of the valve F said lever e being also prefer-.

ably provided with a series of openings to which said rod f may be connected, the re spective rods f and f being attached to the vibrating bar D on opposite sides of its pivotal center in the respective openings b o which openings furnish the means for changing the connecting-point of said rods with said lever, and thus vary the movement of the rods produced by a uniform movement of the lever D. The fingers e 6 which I term the presser-fingers, are preferably formed on their outer extremities in the nature of angular blades, adapted as they are pressed to be forced into the groundslightly and gather or hill up the earth and at the same time press shoe E.

Pivoted at g to asuitable hanger g, con nected to the main frame, is a lifting-lever 1, preferably curved upwardly,- as shown in Fig.

' 2, and extended to a convenient point near the top of the box G, so as to be operated by the foot of the driver, a stationary hook g on the main frame furnishing the means for engaging the front end of said lever and holding it when pressed forward by the foot of the driver, the said lever being extended at the rear, so as to rest under the horizontal portion E of the supporting-post E, means being thus furnished by which the plantingshoe with the stand-pipe and its connections may be elevated within the main frame A A when not in use, the bar E being'adapted to slide in theslotted openings d. 'The fertilizer-box His provided in the bottom with a suitable opening h, a vibrating valve It being adapted to open'and close the same. Connected to the outer extremity of the valve h is a vibrating or oscillating lever 7L pivoted in a suitable bearing h and connected at its lower end by a connecting-rod 2 to the operating-lever D, said rod being adapted to engage in one of the openings 2) in said lever, the oscillating lever it being also preferablyprovided with aseries of openings 'h to vary the movement or stroke of said lever by varying the point at which the rod f is connected thereto.

At each side of the planting-shoe E, I preferably provide backwardly-extending bars or wings J, preferably connected to said shoe at k by a suitable pin or bolt, which passes through one of a series of openings k. These bars or wings J are further supported by an arch-shaped bar J, connected to the supporting-post E and pivoted at their lower ends to said wings or bars by suitable bolts or pins 10 These projecting bars or wings are preferably formed in two parts, the rear portion J of each part being connected to the forward portion by the small pin or bolt 10 which serves to connect the same to the arch J, the rear portion being further connected to the forward portion by a small pin or bolt k which passes through the respective parts in front of the pivotal point 10 one or more openings 10 being provided to receive said pin or bolt 76, means being thus furnished whereby the rear ends of the projecting wings or flanges J may be adj ust-ed so as to change their angular position with reference to the plantingshoe E. These extending bars or wings are preferably curved outward from the front to a point substantially opposite the stand-pipe, from whence they are curved backwardly and inwardly, the lower edge of the front part of said wings or flanges being preferably slightly above the bottom of the planting-shoe,'the object and purpose of said wings being to ward off clods of dirt from the shoe E and to draw the loose soil inwardly behind said shoe in the nature of a ridge or hill.

Supported on the main frame A A and extending backwardly therefrom are seat-supporting-beams K, each provided with a seat K, arranged adjacent tothe stand-pipe and the presser-fingers.

The operation of the device is as follows: As the machine is drawn forward the wheels B are caused to revolve, which brings the proj ections a in the cam or disk wheel 13 in contact with the lever D, causing said lever to be oscillated on its pivotal center I). movement of this lever is simultaneously transmitted to the valve F in the stand-pipe F, the fertilizer-valve h, and the' presser-fingers e e. The result of this operation permits a certain amount of water from the box G and fertilizer from the boX H to be discharged through the stand-pipe F within the shoe E. At the same time the presser-fingers are depressed into theearth and slightly hill The up and press the earth at the point where the I fertilizer and water are discharged An operator seated on each of the seats K drops at the same moment a tobacco or other plant in the trench formed by the shoe E immediately behind the post F, where it is caused to remain and be properly planted by the action of the presser-fingers 6 e The wings J, following the presser-fingers, hill up the loose soil about the plants, thus thoroughly protecting the roots of the same.

In planting potatoes or similar vegetables I place a cone-shaped tube or pipe immediately behind the post F and drop the potatoes through this tube as the lever D is operated in the manner before described. I preferably provide on each of'the carrying-wheels a projection or projections L, adapted to make a' depression in the soil, as the wheels are revolved, opposite the point at which the planterwise, as desired, the movement of the sup porting-bar F in the curved slotted arms or yokes E being adapted to produce a movement of the operating-lever D, which throws it out of contact with the projection a, so that the planting mechanism remains at rest when in an elevated posit-ion. By having the supporting-wheels secured rigidly to the axle, as described, and employing a divided axle with the cam-wheel or diskwvheel secured rigidly to one of the parts thereof I am enabled to produce a simple and cheap construction by which all the parts are simultaneously operated by a single operating-lever. rangement of" the openings at in the disk-wheel permits the projections to be adjusted therein,

so as to produce a greater or less number of movements in the lever to a revolution of the supporting-wheel. Taking the point Z as a starting-point at which one projection remains permanently the arrangement of the other openings is such that any number of projections located at the proper subdivisions of the disk formed by said openings, the figures at said openings indicating the location of the projections necessary to prod [me a number of strokes of the lever to each revolution of V the wheel indicated by said number. It will be understood that the fertilizer discharged into the stand pipe becomes dissolved by or intimately mixed with the water introduced therein, and that both are discharged through the cutoff valve.

Instead of having the openings Ct in the revolving disk 13 and the adjustable projections a to fit in said openings, it may be found preferable to construct the disk B as shown in Figs.'8 and 9, the said figures being, respectively, a front and rear view of a modified form of said disk. In this case the disk B is made removable and reversible. One side is provided with a certain definite num ber of permanent projections a three being shown in Fig. 8. The opposite side of the disk is provided with a different number-say five-as shown in Fig. 9. A number of disks may be provided, each having on opposite sides a different number of permanent projections, so that by reversing the disks a different number of strokes may be given, or by taking off one disk and putting on another any desired number of strokes may be secured at each revolution of the wheel.

It is obvious that the constructions may be modified without departingfrom the spirit of It will be understood that the The army invention. I do not therefore limit my self to the exact constructions set forth; but I claim as my invention 1. The combination, With a main frame and the supporting-wheels, of a divided axle, one

part of which is adapted to turn with one of said Wheels, a cam-wheel on said axle, and a pivoted lever to be operated with said camwheel, and a stand-pipe having a suitable valve operated bysaid'lever, and presser-fingers supported adjacent to said stand-pipe, and means forco'nnecting said fingers to said operating-lever to cause said fingers to be simultaneously operated with said valve, sub stantially as specified.

2. In a planter, a stand-pipe having branches leading to awater-receptacle and a-fertilizerreceptacle, respectively, a cut-off valve below said branches, presser-fingers adjacent to said stand-pipe, and means, substantially as described, for operating said cut-oif valve and said pr'esser-fingers simultaneously, substan tially as specified. 3. The combination, with a stand-pipe and a fertilizer-receptacle and a water-receptacle connected by separate tubes or pipes to said too 4. The combination, with a central pivoted operating-lever, a cam-wheel having projections adapted to engage said lever to vibrate the same, and a spring to return said lever to its normal position, of a stand-pipe having a cut-off valve located therein, pivoted presses fingers arranged at each side of said standpipe and adapted to projectrearwardly therefrom,and independent adjustable connectingrods extending, respectively, from the cut-off valve and. the said presser-fingers to opposite sides of the pivotal center of said lever, whereby a simultaneous action is produced of said valve and fingers bya movement of said'lever, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with a pivoted lever having a series of openings on eachside of its pivoted center, a cam-wheel having projections adapted to engage said lever, and a spring for returning said lever to its normal position, of astandpipe having acut-off valve and presser-fingers pivoted adjacent to said stand-pipe, connecting-rods from said presserfingers and from said cut-off valve,'and means for connecting said rods in openings in said lever at each side of the pivoted center thereof, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of a main frame and a planting-shoe pivoted thereto, a T-shaped supporting-post having projecting ends operating in slotted yokes on said frame, means for raising and lowering said shoe in said v the presser-fingers arranged ad acent thereto,

slotted yokes, a cut-off valve in said standpipe, and an oscillating lever adapted to be operated by the revolution of the supportingwheels to move'said valve, and means,substan-' tially as described, f or throwing said lever out of engagement with the operating mechanism when the planting-shoe is raised, substantially as specified.

7. In a planter, the combination, with a planting-shoe, a T-shaped supporting -post, slotted guiding-yokes, and a lifting-lever for said T-shaped post, of a stand-pipe connected to said shoe, a cut-off valve in said stand-pipe, movable presser-fingers connected to said post, and an oscillating operating-lever connected on opposite sides of its pivoted center to said presser-fingers and to saidcut-off valve, re-

- spectively, and means for intermittently-oscillating said lever to produce a simultaneous movement of said valve and fingers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination of a planting-shoe, a T-shaped supporting-post connected thereto, the curved slotted guiding-yokes, a stand-pipe connected to said supporting-post, branches from said stand-pipe leading, respectively, from a water-receptacle and a fertilizer-receptacle,acut-otf valve below said branch connections, presser-fingers pivoted adjacent to said stand-pipe, a pivoted lever connected at one side of its pivoted center to said presserfingers and at the other to said cut-off valve,

and a fertilizer-controlling valve adapted to be operated by said lever, and means for intermittently moving said lever by the re volution of the carrying-wheels, substantially as specified.

9. The combination, with a main frame and the carrying-wheels, of a divided axle, one part of which is connected rigidly to one of the said carrying-wheels and provided with a disk or cam wheel secured thereto, a series of openings in said cam-wheel, adapted to receive adj ustable cam projections, a pivoted lever on the main frame, adapted to engage with said projections, a stand-pipe and cut-off valve therein, presser-fingers adjacent to said standpipe, and means for connecting said presserfingers and said cut-oif valve tosaid oscillating lever en opposite sides of the center thereof, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of February, A. D. 1891.

ANDREW F. SHULER.

Witnesses:

JOHN HOPACKER, H. A. KEYMER. 

